Emotional Release and Big Skies

By PT PT

 

Crane Hot Springs   May 13, 2025


It’s been a rough 48 hours. SO much stress getting ready for this trip. There were tears before I even left, and a few more on the drive over the pass. Nothing dramatic—it’s just how I let go of things I’ve been carrying around for too long. Women friends will understand... guys? Maybe not so much.

The weather wasn’t exactly welcoming—snow, sleet, and rain through the Cascades. Once we got past Bend, the skies settled down. My Pilot did fine towing the trailer, though the steeper climbs at McKenzie Pass definitely had us huffing and puffing. Slow and steady wins the race, right?

Now we’re here: cold, windy Crane Hot Springs, about 23 miles east of Burns. Rain off and on, and the camper needs some reorganizing. Oh—and the commode isn’t working. Lovely. Luckily, there are porta-potties scattered around here. That’s kind of a must when you’re a woman of a certain age trying to stay civil in the "wilderness."

I unhitched, got Beamer settled, and… couldn’t find his food tin. Evidently I forgot it. And his vitamins! Of course I did. So back in the car I went, speeding to Burns just in time to make it to the feed store before closing. Hopefully his gut won’t revolt—he’s got a stomach that prefers consistency, and sudden diet changes usually mean a day or two of regret. He’s being a champ though. We do this weird little dance in the camper while I’m trying to get organized—him underfoot, me muttering, back and forth we go. It's tiny in here.

He slept next to me last night, but he keeps giving me this puzzled look like, “What the HELL are we doing, Mom?… and WHY?” I’ve been wondering that myself.

This morning I tried to make a second cup of coffee, but the Nespresso machine rebelled. I sighed the kind of sigh only coffee-less travelers can truly understand. I’ll investigate later.

Today’s plan:

Stay put. Rest up. Take short walks. Reorganize a few things. Soak in the hot springs. Read. Write. Definitely nap. The fridge is OFF—it’s a noisy little beast, and if I don’t start getting some real sleep soon, I’m going to become a full-blown beeatch. (I know, I know… some already think I am.)

Hopefully tomorrow we’ll be up for a little scouting adventure—and I’ll share some pics. For now, it’s just the inside of a camper in mild chaos. Stay tuned.

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